The Christine Jensen and Nikki Iles Anglo-Canadian Group

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Last Show: Monday 15 th August 2016

PizzaExpress Jazz Club (Soho)

Award winning Montreal-based saxophonist Christine Jensen has been described as “an original voice on the international jazz scene and one of Canada’s most compelling composers”. Downbeat Magazine continues “Jensen writes with a quiet kind of authority ...  Wayne Shorter, Maria Schneider and Kenny Wheeler come to mind. She is rapidly developing into a major force as a player and writer.” Christine will team up with British pianist Nikki Iles - “one of the most refreshing figures to have emerged in recent times. A pianist of extraordinary imagination and a formidable UK jazz presence” (The Guardian). Joining them tonight for this special concert are the exceptional Percy Pursglove on trumpet, Dave Whitford on Bass and James Maddren on drums.

Montreal-based saxophonist and composer Christine Jenson has been described as “an original voice on the international jazz scene and one of Canada’s most compelling composers.” Jenson took home the Juno Award for contemporary Jazz Album of the Year with Treelines in 2011 along with Quebec’s Opus award for Jazz recording of the year and a rare 5 star review in Downbeat Magazine. She has collaborated with a diverse array of musicians ,including Gary Smulyan, Dick Oatts, Ben Monder, Geoffrey Keezer and her sister, Ingrid Jenson. She has toured extensively bringing her music to India, Peru Argentina , Denmark, Chile and finally to the UK.

As a founder member of the Creative Jazz Orchestra, Nikki worked with Vince Mendoza, Anthony Braxton and Mike Gibbs. Although well known as a pianist, composition still remains a major part of her musical life with several nominations from the prestigious Paul Hamlyn Award and commissions from the the London Sinfonietta, Renga, (The London Philharmonic). As a player, she remains much in demand - Recent work has included, The Julian Arguelles Octet, Stan Sulzmann, Tony Coe, Tina May , Dave Holland, The Kenny Wheeler Big Band and along with a recent nomination for best group in the Parliamentary Jazz Awards 2016 with her own group, The Printmakers with Norma Winstone. In addition she has recently recorded 'Hush' in New York with American musicians Rufus Reid and Jeff Williams, “Mirrors” with Kenny Wheeler and “Westerly“ the latest release with Norma Winstone.